2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV, and owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Shift pattern indicator (power train)
Certain sport utility vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock and transmission braking effect." under certain vehicle starting conditions, the shift lever position indicator located in…
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the instrument panel cluster free of charge. The recall began on february 14, 2005. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, and GMC at 1-866-996-9463.
14 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 109,175 miles. Complaints peaked in 2009 with 2 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that each time the doors were manually locked or unlocked, the vehicle started and turned off. The alarm alert warning light and the t”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 6, 2023 · Electrical system
“The vehicle was parked in my driveway, where it had been since the day before. It was not powered on in anyway, nor was anything plugged in inside. In the early morning we were made aware by a neighbo”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 5, 2018 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2005 Cadillac Escalade (Escalade 2WD, Escalade AWD, Escalade ESV AWD, Escalade Ext AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 13–15 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 12–14 / 16–19 |
| Fuel | Premium, Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 8 cyl, 5.3/6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
Compare Cadillac Escalade ESV model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Cadillac Escalade ESV model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV
How do I know if my 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Cadillac dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 05V055000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Cadillac models
- SRX3,262 complaints
- Deville2,725 complaints
- CTS2,217 complaints
- Escalade1,713 complaints
- Seville801 complaints
- DTS527 complaints
- Catera468 complaints
- STS430 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.